Below I am featuring the text of an article written by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. It is quite appropriate for reflection on Independence Day:
Birthdays and anniversaries, especially as the years accumulate, are accompanied by reciting and reliving the stories of the past. The older I get, the more I look back with appreciation on those occasions where I listened to my grandparents and parents relive defining moments in their lives. Those accounts not only give me a better understanding of our family's story, but my place in that still unfolding story. And so it is for a nation. As Americans celebrate the anniversary of our birth as a nation, it is undoubtedly appropriate, if not necessary, to reflect upon those defining moments from our history that not only help us understand and appreciate our nation's unique history, but also help us understand that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. Freedom is the title of America's story. America's freedom was the fuel that churned the American engine of ingenuity and economic advancement and made America the land of opportunity that served as a magnet to attract millions to the shores of the young nation. But one cannot objectively look at our nation's story and not see that from the very beginning faith and religious exercise played a significant role in shaping the freedom that put America on the rapid path to becoming a world leader. An essential ingredient to the political and social freedoms that the inhabitants of America have enjoyed is not only the individual freedom of religion, but an understanding that the public practice or exercise of religious faith is essential to America's success. Even President Obama noted in a 2006 speech that "secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Williams Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King -- indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history -- were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause...Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition." Unfortunately, within just a few years, these words were at odds with his policies as president. To fully understand just how essential this public practice of religion is, we need look no further than the men who crafted our governing documents and shaped our nation. John Adams, a descendant of Puritan colonists and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, served as America's second president. Speaking to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia on October 11, 1798, he emphasized the essential nature of religion to America's structure of freedom: "We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, Ambition, Revenge, or Gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." This perspective was not unique to Adams. His predecessor, George Washington, spoke of religion as being one of the great pillars that upheld America's fledgling government when he spoke to the young nation in his farewell address in 1796: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity...And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." Far from seeing religion as something to be quarantined within the walls of churches or houses of worship, the prevailing view in America up until the mid-twentieth century was that the public exercise of religious freedom was not only welcome but an essential part of America's success. Over the last half century, secularists have repeatedly turned to the courts in their quest to rid the public square of religion. A series of conflicting rulings have turned the religion clauses of the First Amendment into something that would only confuse our Founding Fathers. This has led many to self-censor or believe that faith is a disqualification from the public square. However, America's story cannot be adequately told without including the prominent role of religion. Religion, and in particular the Christian faith, has been an essential component of America's greatness, or exceptionalism—to use a term that makes the Left apoplectic. Similarly, America's future, if the nation is to truly recapture its greatness, cannot succeed without a return to true religious freedom, meaning the ability of citizens to take their place in the nation's still unfolding story by freely living and interacting in society guided by their religious faith. Tony Perkins' Washington Update is written with the aid of FRC senior writers. Indeed, we must stand up for religious freedom and we most certainly cannot allow society to censor our convictions from the public square. I would suggest the way to preserve religious freedom is to actually enter the free marketplace of ideas and engage the culture with direct discourse on the issues of our day. May the Lord give us both boldness and courage to do so is my prayer. Here is a news release from Citizens for Community Values of Ohio:
COLUMBUS – In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this morning that a Bladensburg Peace Cross World War I Memorial on public land does not violate the Constitution. The American Humanist Association sued to remove the Bladensburg Cross, claiming it violated the separation of church and state. The following statement is from CCV President Aaron Baer: “Once again, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed our nation’s first freedom: religious liberty. In a powerful 7-2 decision, the Court upheld what most Americans know to be true: religious displays on public lands do not violate the Constitution or represent an ‘establishment of religion.’ “Today’s decision is especially relevant to Ohioans for two reasons. First, radical activist groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation are on a crusade to threaten state and local leaders to abandon prayer and any other religious displays on government property. Our advice to Ohio leaders is that when FFRF calls, just hang up the phone. Time and time again the courts have rejected their arguments. Their anti-religious worldview is un-American. “Second, it’s a reminder that elections have consequences! America has a federal judiciary today that respects religious freedom and the Constitution because Ohio voters stood up and had their voice heard. Thanks to President Donald Trump for nominating originalist judges, and leaders like Senator Rob Portman for affirming these nominees, we are on an unprecedented winning streak for religious freedom today. “Lastly, I want to thank our friends at the First Liberty Institute for defending the Bladensburg Cross so effectively at the Supreme Court. As a small token of our thanks, I want to encourage every Ohioan to make at least a $17 donation to First Liberty – to say thanks from the 17th state in the union! You can make a tax-deductible donation to First Liberty by clicking here." For more information, contact Citizens for Community Values at info@ccv.org, or 513.733.5775. As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected. I appreciate the good work of CCV in Ohio and I agree with the assessment that elections have consequences. Thankfully the more conservative mindset of our current President has resulted in a more conservative Supreme Court in regard to protecting religious freedom. Keep praying for the Court, our President, and Congress as they will either protect religious expression or seek to suppress it. Currently we are headed in the right direction connected to the preservation of religious freedom. The right to bear arms is a fundamental piece of our freedom in America. We must never allow the State to disarm the American people for a number of reasons. Among those reasons is the basic right to self-defense.
You should read the examples listed in this article from the Heritage Foundation that documents how normal citizens are able to defend themselves against criminals in real life situations. I also found it eye-opening to see how many times in an average year such acts of self-defense occur in the nation. The truth is guns are used in self-defense many times more than they are used to commit crimes. The liberals just can't get anything right and they certainly are wrong when it comes to attacking the Second Amendment. Upon graduating from high school, the subject of money and how to manage financial decisions bursts into one’s life. Generally young graduates are ill prepared to make those decisions primarily because they simply have no experience to draw from.
It is one thing to learn something about personal finance in a book and quite another to start managing decisions on spending, saving, etc. With that in mind here are several important insights to help begin making wise money decisions. 1. If you have not already started, begin tithing on a weekly basis. Honoring the Lord with the first of your income sets the most important priority when it comes to handling money—putting the Lord first. (Cf. Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Cor. 9:6-8) 2. Immediately plan to avoid borrowing money. Debt is easy to accumulate and very difficult to pay back. Debt creates stress and often contributes to missing God’s best in your life. Instead of a debt cycle begin a savings cycle! 3. Be very careful about borrowing money to attend college. Student debt is out of control in America totaling an astounding 1.5 trillion dollars. Create a path of study that limits student debt. There are ways to do this including the option of pursing a trade that does not require a four-year degree. Quite frankly it would be better if many students worked and earned 80 to 100,000 dollars over four years as compared to going in debt to the tune of $50,000.00 or more over four years of college. Starting life out at age 22 or 23 with a student loan debt in excess of $50,000.00 is simply not wise for most students. 4. Establish the discipline of saving money each week. Without this habit your financial future is going to suffer. The wise among us save about 20% of their income and live on 70% of their income (assuming one tithes). Deciding to “pay yourself first” before you spend the balance of your money leads to a great measure of prosperity. Much needs to be said about this subject, however, do not spend all you earn. SAVING MONEY PREPARES YOU TO DEAL WITH NEEDS WITHOUT BORROWING MONEY. SAVING MONEY GETS INTEREST WORKING FOR YOU INSTEAD OF AGAINST YOU. SAVING MONEY IS THE WAY TO PROSPERITY. 5. Establish a spending plan, better known as a budget. A spending plan empowers you to reach goals as opposed to no plan that leads to out of control spending. 6. Avoid get rich quick schemes as it is usually someone else who becomes rich at your expense! 7. Seek godly advice when it comes to handling money and making wise decisions. Create a “Christian cabinet” of advisors which might consist of your parents, your pastor, several older, successful believers who know how to handle money (some might be business owners), and someone in the area of your decision. For example, before you buy a home talk to a trusted real estate professional who is not selling you the potential home. I recommend any graduate visit Crown Financial Ministries website crown.org and use their resources to gain a wealth of insight into Biblical money management. Also, their Career Direct tools can be a great help as a young graduate seeks direction for a job they love. I conclude now with a word of encouragement to all graduates from Proverbs 3:5-6 which says: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Religious freedom is the cornerstone of American liberty. Consequently, believe the Christian community and Americans in general must stand up and be counted in the struggle to maintain freedom of conscience in the country for all Americans.
Unfortunately, the rise of the ungodly through-out our society is placing religious freedom at great risk. The answer to this challenge lies in the willingness of Christians to use the cherished freedom we still possess to fight for religious freedom. We must engage the issue in the public marketplace of ideas and we must continually point out the deficient thinking of those who wish to punish those whom they disagree with on spiritual and moral issues. Here is a tease from an excellent article by John Stonestreet and G. Shane Morris on this issue which contains a helpful acronym to assist with conversations defending religious freedom: "We’ve not seen in the United States, at least in recent memory, so many efforts to force Christians to act in ways that violate their consciences. Almost always, these demands are made in the name of sexual freedom—whether we’re talking about nuns being forced to provide contraception, bakers and florists having to participate in gay weddings, or adoption agencies being forced to place kids with same-sex couples . . . Free is an acronym that can walk you through an intelligent conversation about religious liberty. F is for Forcing. Forcing people to go against their beliefs for no good reason is a bad thing. This is a premise that even most secular people should be able to get behind. R stands for Reason. Is there a good reason to force a religious person to go against his or her belief in the case you’re discussing? And are there less burdensome alternatives to squashing this freedom, like using a bakery down the street or an adoption agency across town? The first E is for Examples. Offer examples that the person you’re talking with may not have thought of or heard of. Should a Muslim t-shirt designer be forced to create shirts mocking the prophet Muhammad? Should an Orthodox Jewish club at a university be forced to admit Christians as officers? Should an LGBT baker be forced to bake a cake with anti-gay slogans? The final E is one I think they’ll love: Equality. Christians who don’t agree with the new sexual orthodoxy should be equally free to live according to their faith, without being compelled to violate their consciences. Don’t hesitate to turn it around as a question: “If you think Muslims and Jews should have religious freedom in the examples we gave, why not Christians?” Follow this link for the full article which includes recent research on the somewhat indifferent attitude toward religious freedom amongst the Christian community. |